Brawl erupts at Carson High School between 30 black, Latino students; school says fight not racially motivated

KPCC & wires

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At least 30 students battled each other at Carson High School Wednesday in a fight between black and Latino students that left four injured and two under arrest, authorities said.

Los Angeles Unified School District spokeswoman Monica Carazo initially described the fight as a racially motivated brawl, but a later press release said that descriptions of the fights as racially motivated have not been substantiated, according to Los Angeles School Police Chief Steven Zipperman.

"This campus has no current racial issues," Zipperman said.

“According to student leaders," Principal Windy Warren said, "the fights were not racially motivated. Further details regarding the incidents are still being investigated."

She added, “This is a very unusual incident for the Carson campus, which has been very peaceful this entire school year.”

Dozens of students traded punches and kicks in a series of fights that erupted in the school courtyard during the 10 a.m. break, said Carazo.

School police and Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies quelled the violence. Four students were sent to the hospital for treatment, but Carazo did not immediately know their conditions or the extent of their injuries.

Two students were arrested on suspicion of assault, while another three were taken into custody. Seven other students were issued citations for fighting.

The school was placed on modified lockdown, with students confined to classrooms except for lunch and to use restrooms.

The school has more than 3,000 students, about half of them Latino. There also is a large black population.

Racial tensions in the nation's second-largest school district occasionally have led to school brawls. In 2005, as many as 100 students scuffled at Jefferson High School in South Los Angeles, leading to several arrests and injuries. Several other fights involving dozens of students have been reported at the school and other campuses.